Flushing-Jamaica Select Bus Service Public Workshop | October 7, 2014

Overview Select Bus Service in New York City

Flushing-Jamaica Corridor • Ridership • Sources of Delay • Bus Travel Speeds • Crash Data

Related Initiatives Underway in Flushing

Project Timeline

Next Steps

Workshop Exercises

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Project Goals

Improve bus speed and reliability

Connect two of NYC’s busiest business districts

Improve safety for all street users

Maintain community character

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Select Bus Service (SBS) is New York City’s brand name for Bus Rapid Transit

SBS brings: Buses 15-20% faster

10%+ increases in ridership in first year

95%+ customer satisfaction

Improved passenger comfort & convenience

About Select Bus Service

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Flushing to Jamaica corridor identified in initial NYC BRT study (2006) and Bus Rapid Transit Phase II report (2009)

Characterized by “long and slow bus trips”

Project Background

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2010: Pedestrian improvements in Downtown Flushing; capital buildout forthcoming

2011: Bus lanes and other transit improvements in Jamaica Center

2014: Mayor de Blasio announces Vision Zero initiative to eliminate traffic fatalities in New York

Project Background

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Select Bus Service Features Dedicated Bus Lanes

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Select Bus Service Features Faster Fare Collection

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Select Bus Service Features Signal Priority for Buses

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Select Bus Service Features Revised Parking Regulations

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Select Bus Service Features Real-Time Passenger Information

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Select Bus Service Features Pedestrian Safety Improvements

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Select Bus Service Features Improved Station Amenities

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Corridor Overview

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Main Street:

• Q20A/B: Jamaica to College Point

• Q44: Jamaica to Bronx Zoo

Parsons Blvd/Kissena Blvd:

• Q25: Jamaica to College Point

• Q34: Jamaica to Whitestone

Corridor Overview

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Residents within ½ mile:

Mode to Work % of workers

Subway 33%

Bus 15%

Driving 37%

Other 14%

Bus Ridership Main St Routes

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Route Weekday Ridership Peak Frequency

Q20 13,609 12 minutes

Q44 28,689 4 minutes

Route Weekday Ridership Peak Frequency

Q25 19,324 8 minutes

Q34 7,054 10 minutes

Kissena Blvd/Parsons Blvd Routes

28%

10% 20%

42%

Corridor Ridership

Q25Q34Q20Q44

Total corridor ridership over 68,000 daily riders

Bus Ridership

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Q44 LTD Sources of Delay

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In Motion 51%

Bus Stops 18%

Traffic & Red Lights 29%

Other 2%

AM and PM peak period observations, Spring and Fall 2014

Q25 LTD Sources of Delay

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In Motion 54%

Bus Stops 15%

Traffic & Red Lights 29%

Other 2%

AM and PM peak period observations, Spring and Fall 2014

Bus Travel Speeds

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Q44

Q25

Congestion Hot Spots

• Main St in Downtown Flushing

• Sutphin Blvd

• Parsons Blvd

• Hillside Av

Bus speeds under 10 mph overall

Crash Data Top Crash Intersections

• Roosevelt Av

• Archer Av

• Jamaica Av

• Hillside Av

• Sanford Av

• Union Tpke

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Transit, traffic and parking analysis underway to: • Understand traffic patterns

• Select corridor(s) for SBS design • Street design focused on Main St and Kissena Blvd/Parsons Blvd

• Service design will look at entire corridor, including College Point and The Bronx

• Guide discussion about specific areas

Flushing to Jamaica Corridor

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Traffic control system for Downtown Flushing enables NYCDOT to adjust signals in response to traffic congestion in real time

Similar system led to 10% travel time reduction in Midtown

Traffic model in development

Related Initiatives: Flushing In Motion

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DDC Capital project to widen sidewalks in Downtown Flushing

• Main Street between 38th Av and 41st Av

Detailed design in progress

Related Initiatives: Main St Sidewalk Widening

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Step 1: Data collection & analysis • Traffic counts • Parking survey • Safety data • Travel-time surveys • Transit operations

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Summer/Fall 2014

Project Timeline

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Step 2: Corridor Selection and Concept Design • Choose roadway(s) for SBS improvements • Develop concept design for selected locations • Second round of public outreach

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Winter 2014/2015

Project Timeline

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Step 3: Develop corridor plan • Street design • Traffic Analysis • Stop locations • Pedestrian safety improvements • Third round of outreach

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 2015

Project Timeline

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Step 4: Final Design plan • Final design • Implementation plan • Construction phasing plan for capital elements, if any • Launch SBS service

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 TBD

Project Timeline

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Fall 2014:

Additional data collection

Transit operations analysis

Develop routing concepts

Winter 2014:

Second Public Meeting

Next Steps

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Thanks!

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